Central America's overlooked gem — colonial Granada on Lake Nicaragua, the birthplace of the Frente Sandinista in León, volcano surfing down Cerro Negro, and Big Corn Island's undeveloped Caribbean coast.
- Capital
- Managua
- Population
- 6,803,886
- Area
- 129,494 km²
- Languages
- Spanish
- Currency
- Nicaragua Cordoba Oro (NIO)
- GDP
- $21,155M
Good to know
Driving side
Right
National dish
Gallo pinto
Annual visitors
474,000 (2020)
Safety
Elevated (11.35/100k)
Big Mac
$4.75
Avg temp
25.9°C
Religion
Christianity
Coast
Coastal
☎ Police 118 · Ambulance 128 · Fire 115
Travel guide
Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America by area and the least densely populated. Nicaraguans (or "Nicas" as they are often called) like to refer to their country as the "país de lagos y volcanes"; the country of lakes and volcanoes. And those are indeed striking features as Nicaragua contains the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lake Nicaragua or Cocibolca. Inside Lake Nicaragua the famed Volcano Concepcion on Ometepe rises to about a mile in altitude, but other volcanoes such as Momotombo or Mombacho are also impressive.
© Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA)
Explore Nicaragua
Best time to visit
November–April is the dry season — the best time for Granada and León. May–October is rainy season. Big Corn Island is year-round but best December–April. Volcano surfing best November–April.
Visa
Citizens of US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and most Western countries receive 90 days visa-free under the CA-4 agreement. Check current travel advisories given political situation.
Public holidays
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (2)
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